Jury Deliberates Grandmother’s Fate In Murder Trial Of Grandson

The grandmother of a 4-year-old Commerce City boy, Doris Becky Trujillo, was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death after the boy's death in February 2011. (photo credit: Adams County Sheriff's Department)

BRIGHTON, Colo. (CBS4)– A jury is deliberating the fate of a Commerce City grandmother accused of killing her 4-year-old grandson.

Doris Becky Trujillo is on trial for first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. The coroner’s office said Gabriel Trujillo died from blunt force injuries to the head and neck.

The jury began deliberating around noon and left the court for the day just before 5 p.m.

State records show Doris Trujillo, 61, had been caring for the boy and also had custody of his sisters, ages 10 and 13.

The defense claims that Gabriel had a closed head injury, which is why his behavior changed and he began having a series of accidents and falls.

The prosecution said Doris Trujillo physically abused Gabriel. She said her grandson fell out of a chair and hit his head on the day of the fatal injury.

Police testified that he was naked when they arrived and covered in bruises and scars at different stages of healing all over his body. They also said he appeared malnourished and was unresponsive.

Investigators said his injuries were not consistent with what Doris Trujillo said happened.

Justeen Trujillo doesn’t know what to believe after hearing the prosecution and defense outline their cases against her grandmother.

Gabriel Trujillo (credit: Trujillo family photo)

“It’s hard, it’s hard to hear, it’s hard to get pulled one way and hard to get pulled the other way,” Justeen Trujillo said. “You’ve just got to stay strong, you know, for both of them, for Gabriel cause he’s not here to defend himself.. and my grandma.”

The Prosecution showed numerous pictures of Gabriel covered in bruises taken from Trujillo’s cellphone over months of time. They say Doris Trujillo tortured and killed her grandson and fooled people about the continued abuse and starved him to the point where would take food from the trash.

“To see those pictures and not know what happened to him and what really did happen him,” Justeen Trujillo said.

Lana Roberts also has been charged with child abuse resulting in death after Gabriel died at a hospital Feb. 17, 2012.